4 Killed In Fiery Big-Rig Collision On 5 Freeway In Newhall Pass
SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA) — Four people were killed in a fiery collision involving an SUV and a big rig in the Newhall Pass area of Santa Clarita which shut down the 5 Freeway overnight Thursday.
The collision occurred just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the northbound 5 Freeway at Calgrove Boulevard.
According to California Highway Patrol, an SUV traveling north careened into the trailer of a Freightliner semi-truck which was stopped on the right shoulder.
The trailer and SUV immediately burst into flames, and the SUV's driver and three passengers – three males and a female – died at the scene. Their names and ages were not immediately released.
Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded and extinguished the flames, which had spread to some nearby brush.
The driver of the big rig, which was carrying wooden materials, survived. The driver was able to disconnect the cab from the trailer before it caught fire.
A Sig Alert was issued and the northbound 5 Freeway was shut down for several hours, backing up traffic for miles. At around 9:30 p.m., two of the five northbound lanes were reopened. It was not fully reopened until about 7 a.m. Friday.
CHP investigators are looking into the possibility that speed and or alcohol and drugs may have contributed the collision.
